tailor-made

American  

[tey-ler-meyd, tey-ler-meyd, -meyd] / ˈteɪ lərˈmeɪd, ˈteɪ lərˌmeɪd, -ˈmeɪd /

adjective

1. tailored.

2. custom-made; made-to-order; made-to-measure.

   an expensive tailor-made suit.

3. fashioned to a particular taste, purpose, demand, etc..

   a musical comedy tailor-made for the popular audience.

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noun

1. something, as a garment, that is tailor-made.

tailor-made British  

adjective

1. made by a tailor to fit exactly

   a tailor-made suit

2. perfectly meeting a particular purpose

   a girl tailor-made for him

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noun

1. a tailor-made garment

2. slang a cigarette made in a factory rather than rolled by hand

Usage

What does tailor-made mean? Tailor-made means made to fit the needs or specifications of a particular situation, object, or person—or seeming as though it was made that way.In its most literal sense, tailor-made is used to describe a piece of clothing made by a tailor, especially a suit. A tailor-made garment like this is made specifically to the measurements of the person that it’s for so that it fits them perfectly. This means that it’s one of a kind, as opposed to clothes that are produced in general sizes (often described as ready-to-wear or off-the-rack).But describing something as tailor-made doesn’t necessarily mean it was made by a tailor. Things other than clothing can be tailor-made. In many cases, it’s simply another way of saying it was custom-made—made to unique specifications.Sometimes, the term is used to describe something as seemingly a perfect fit for a person or a situation, even though that thing has not been made specifically for them or even made at all, as in Today’s weather is tailor-made for this hike.Tailor-made can also be used as the past tense of the verb tailor-make, meaning to make in a way that fits a specific situation, as in They didn’t have the replacement part I needed, so I tailor-made one. Less commonly, tailor-made can be used as a noun referring to a tailor-made item, as in Here is my collection of tailor-mades. Example: Each student will follow a tailor-made curriculum that’s designed to meet their individual needs.

Etymology

Origin of tailor-made

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

To me, there’s no greater joy than watching an actor who has been working but not gotten that starring role, walk into something that’s so tailor-made.

From Los Angeles Times

Google's parent company owns YouTube, with which the BBC recently announced a landmark deal to create tailor-made content.

From BBC

Gosling is typically terrific, but “Project Hail Mary” is practically tailor-made for his brand of disarming allure.

From Salon

With trouble in the Middle East and rising stock market volatility, it’s a tailor-made moment for the market’s favorite active exchange-traded fund.

From Barron's

The name of the role suggests that the character is tailor-made for Reese.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• custom-made
• suitable
• suited